Scholarship, context and study plans for Come, Follow Me
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD.” — Isaiah 1:18
Come, Follow Me · Old Testament 2026 · Week 12
“God Meant It unto Good”
March 16–22, 2026Genesis 42–509 chapters · 280 verses
Famine drives Joseph's brothers to Egypt, where they bow before the brother they sold, without recognizing him. Joseph tests them, and Judah offers himself in Benjamin's place. Then Joseph weeps and reveals himself: “I am Joseph.” The family moves to Egypt, Jacob blesses his sons, and Joseph sums up his life: “Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good.”
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Place
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Study guide
The end of Genesis resolves the family conflict that runs through the whole book. These notes help you see how forgiveness and God's providence come together.
How to read this week
Ask why Joseph tests his brothers. He seems to want to know whether they've changed, especially whether they'll abandon Benjamin as they abandoned him. Judah's speech (44:18–34) answers the question.
Count Joseph's tears. He weeps in 42:24; 43:30; 45:2, 14–15; 46:29; 50:1, 17. His tenderness runs underneath his stern testing.
Read 45:5–8 and 50:20 together. Joseph doesn't pretend his brothers did no wrong; he sees God working through it. That perspective makes forgiveness possible.
Treat Genesis 49 as prophecy. Jacob speaks of “the last days” (49:1). The blessings on Judah (kingship, the Messiah) and Joseph (fruitfulness, branches over the wall) matter for the rest of scripture.
Notice the bones. Genesis ends with a coffin in Egypt and a promise to return (50:24–26). The story continues in Exodus.
From famine to reunion
Famine begins — Joseph has ruled Egypt for seven years of plenty (41:53–54)
First journey — Ten brothers bow before Joseph (ch. 42)
Second journey — Benjamin comes; Judah offers himself (chs. 43–44)
Revelation — “I am Joseph” (ch. 45)
Migration — Jacob's family settles in Goshen (chs. 46–47)
Jacob's death — Blessings on his sons; burial in Canaan (chs. 48–50)
Joseph's death — A promise that God will bring Israel out (50:24–26)
Images and ideas to recognize
Passage
Image
What it means
Gen 42:6
Bowing brothers
Joseph's dreams fulfilled, a reversal of the pit.
Gen 44:2
Silver cup in Benjamin's sack
A test of whether the brothers had changed.
Gen 44:33
Judah as substitute
One offering himself for another. A foreshadowing of Christ.
Gen 48:14
Crossed hands
God's choice is not bound by birth order.
Gen 49:22
Branches over the wall
Joseph's posterity spreading beyond its borders.
Gen 50:25
Joseph's bones
Faith that God will keep His promise of the land.
Restoration connections
2 Nephi 3:4–22 — Joseph of Egypt's prophecy of Moses and of a latter-day seer named Joseph.
D&C 133:26–34 — The latter-day gathering, with special blessings through Ephraim.
Jeremiah 31:9 — “Ephraim is my firstborn.”
D&C 64:9–10 — “Of you it is required to forgive all men.”
Questions for the week
Joseph forgave the brothers who sold him. What helps you forgive serious wrongs (45:4–15; 50:15–21)?
Judah changed. What evidence of repentance do you see in Genesis 44?
Looking back, when has the Lord brought good out of something painful in your life (50:20)?
What does your patriarchal blessing, or Jacob's blessings, teach you about who you are?
How is the Savior like Joseph, providing “bread” to the ones who rejected Him?
Conference talks & Church resources
Talks the Church's lesson points to this week, plus other Church resources that teach from these chapters.
Scholarly papers
Faithful scholarship from BYU and related publishers, tagged with the chapters each one discusses.
Podcasts & video
Come, Follow Me shows and episodes covering this week's reading.